Livingstone's theory. 289 



consummation. Each man in his sphere, either knowingly or 

 unwittingly, is performing the will of our Father in heaven. 

 Men of science, searching after hidden truths, which, when dis- 

 covered, will, like the electric telegraph, bind men more closely 

 together — soldiers battling for the right against tyranny — 

 sailors rescuing the victims of oppression from the grasp of 

 heartless men-stealers — merchants teaching the nations lessons 

 of mutual dependence — and many others, as well as mission- 

 aries, all work in the same direction, and all efforts are over- 

 ruled for one glorious end." 



His experience at Kolobeng had taught him that the most 

 permanent results of missionary labor could be realized only by 

 bringing the people into such relations with other nations that 

 a natural business interest would be felt in their improvement. 

 He felt that to encourage Africans to cultivate their soil and 

 gather their treasures for an honest market among Christian 

 nations would most effectually open the way for the gospel. It 

 was his idea to have the missions of Africa enjoy the protection 

 and fostering care of nations which might feel themselves in 

 some sort interested materially in the elevation of the tribes. 

 In the hope of this he had traversed the country from the Cape 

 to Loanda, and from Loanda across to the mouth of the Zam- 

 besi, and had brought out assurances of inexhaustible resources, 

 in the fertility of soil, the wealth of timber, an amazing amount 

 of animal life, with birds, fowls, fishes, etc. ; the profusion of 

 fruits, iron, coal, gold ; and all in the midst of people through 

 whose villages he had passed unharmed ; who were weary of 

 their own unsettled condition and eager for the intercourse of 

 the white man. He had suffered severely in body, and had 

 made sacrifice of his fondest affections ; but he was rewarded by 

 the hope that his labor would be effectual in engaging the atten- 

 tion of mankind for Africa. 'Tis beautiful to find this noble 

 man, forgetful of his sorrows and toils, recounting so happily 

 the kindnesses he had received. He was a man on whom the 

 smallest attention was not lost. His humility and his independ- 

 ence both forbade his making demands of his fellow-men, and 

 all that they did for him was accounted kindness and received 

 with gratitude. In all his discoveries he did not fail to note 

 the discovery of " a vast number of good people in the world." 



